Navigon have announced their latest GPS device, the 8100T, which the company is calling an "uber-premium" design offering "unmatched" functionality. Centered around a 4.8-inch widescreen touch-sensitive display, and with a brushed-metal casing, the 8100T includes rolling 3D hills based on NASA terrain height data, free lifetime traffic updates and Bluetooth hands-free functionality.

To support the new 3D mapping Navigon have included a graphics accelerator, making the 8100T probably one of the most visually-capable (or, depending on how you look at it, most extreme examples of PND overkill) units on the market. Addresses can be entered via spoken prompts or on-screen keyboards with autocorrection. While driving, meanwhile, there's photo-realistic junction signs and intersection detail, Lane Assistant Pro for road positioning and text-to-speech.

Of course, all this comes at a price. The Navigon 8100T will have an MRSP of $599 when it goes on sale later this month. It's also available to buy with the Navigon FreshMaps package, which for $79.99 offers up to twelve map updates over three years.

Press Release:

A new dimension in navigation, NAVIGON 8100T revolutionizes map view with
an extra-wide 4.8" display and stunning Panorama View 3D

CHICAGO, Nov. 10 NAVIGON, the leading innovator in the
navigation market, today announced the launch of its new flagship product,
the NAVIGON 8100T.

With a handsome, brushed-metal housing and an expansive 4.8" display,
the NAVIGON 8100T is an uber-premium GPS navigator offering an unmatched
feature set for those looking for the best navigation experience available
-- a perfect hybrid of style, substance, performance and precision. It is
the first GPS navigator on the market with NAVIGON's revolutionary Panorama
View 3D. This new feature brings a true 3D experience to the map using NASA
terrain height data to provide geographic guidance complete with rolling
hills and digital elevations. The unit's extra-large 4.8" widescreen serves
as the perfect frame for the panoramic 3D views.

The NAVIGON 8100T offers Free Real-Time Traffic Updates for Life --
automatically alerting drivers about traffic issues ahead and rerouting
with the touch of a button. Features like Voice Destination Entry, Reality
View(TM) Pro and Bluetooth(R) Hands-Free make navigating roads easier and
less stressful. Employing NAVIGON's next-generation software, the 8100T is
a top performer, requiring very few clicks to enter a destination.

"The NAVIGON 8100T raises the bar on innovation and design in the PND
category," said Michael Roach, NAVIGON's president for the Americas. "Once
again, NAVIGON is at the forefront of market innovation by introducing real
3D environment views to the market with Panorama View 3D."

The NAVIGON 8100T sells for $599 (MSRP). It hits online retailers in
November 2008 and is available with NAVIGON's breakthrough optional
FreshMaps, which provides up to 12 map updates over three years for $79.99
(MSRP).

The NAVIGON 8100T features include:
-- Panorama View 3D. True 3D environment views come to the navigation
experience. The road ahead is displayed with surrounding landscapes
and digital elevations. This detailed geographic guidance helps
drivers see what lies ahead. The impressive views are supported by a
built-in graphics accelerator.
-- Free Real-Time Traffic Updates for Life. Real-time traffic updates
allow routing around congestion by including traffic flow, incidents
and alternate routes and works for the lifetime of the product right
out of the box without any registration processes, fees or
additional hardware. Across 95 markets in the U.S. and Canada, the
NAVIGON 8100T will alert drivers of traffic troubles and provide
alternate routes.
-- Voice Destination Entry. Advanced voice recognition allows drivers
to specify their destination by simply speaking the address.
NAVIGON's distinctive iconic interface guides the users through the
process.
-- Uncompromising Design. The 8100T takes NAVIGON's love for design to
a new level. The silver brushed-metal housing serves as the ideal
frame for an extra-large 4.8" widescreen display. The complementary
premium car mount echoes the design of the 8100T, plus it has
additional functionality too. The charger is built-in, users simply
dock the device on the mount and it automatically stays charged.
-- Reality View(TM) Pro. Never miss an exit again with the next
generation of Reality View -providing more coverage in more places.
Reality View Pro displays photo-realistic 3D views with actual road
signs and lane guidance for virtually every highway interchange and
exit that drivers will encounter.
-- Lane Assistant Pro. Helps drivers prepare to make an upcoming exit
or turn by providing clear visual lane guidance. NAVIGON's second
generation of Lane Assistant provides a lane map complete with
arrows and actual road geometry.
-- Fast Destination Entry. The latest generation of NAVIGON software
makes entering and finding information fast and simple with fewer
clicks. NAVIGON's SmartSpeller feature helps guiding through the
entry process.
-- Bluetooth(R) Hands-Free. The integrated Bluetooth(R) feature helps
keeping both hands on the wheel while still staying connected. The
NAVIGON 8100T acts like a Bluetooth speakerphone to hold
conversations without all the distractions. As an added feature,
Microsoft(R) Outlook contacts can be imported to the NAVIGON 8100T
with NAVIGON Sync.
-- Advanced Text-to-speech. Spoken Directions with Street Names lets
drivers keep their hands on the wheel and eyes on the road with
advanced phonetic text-to-speech technology to ensure proper
pronunciation of streets.
-- Zagat(R) Ratings and Reviews. Only NAVIGON can show where to wine,
dine, and unwind with a built-in exclusive ZAGAT guide that includes
over 27,000 listings across the U.S. and Canada spanning hotels,
nightclubs, attractions and golf courses. With millions of standard
points-of-interest and branded icons onboard users always have a gas
station, restaurant or golf course at their finger tips.
-- Exit Guide. NAVIGON's Highway Exit Guide enables users to search
upcoming exits for one of six POI categories -- food, gas, lodging,
rest areas, auto service or shopping. And, with one click, the
NAVIGON 8100T navigates there.
-- DirectHelp(SM). Help is a click away with this DirectHelp, providing
instant driving directions to and contact information for nearby
hospitals, police stations, roadside assistance, and pharmacies.
-- Top-Notch Performance. NAVIGON's new software gets to the right
route in less time. NAVIGON's new software platform delivers our
most responsive interface to date and supports incredibly fast route
calculation times.